Green Bay Packers’ Jenkins miffed over lack of contract talk with team

As the Packers prepare to host the Detroit Lions Sunday at Lambeau Field, there might be some trouble brewing in Titletown.

Oct 2, 2010 ~ by Bob McGinn

~Green Bay Packers Defensive end Cullen Jenkins is becoming more fed up by the day with team management of the Green Bay Packers and its refusal even to discuss a new contract with him.

“It’s almost like maybe a slap in the face,” Jenkins said Friday. “I’m not the type of player that causes a big scene or goes out and displays his unhappiness.

According to National Football League contract figures, the Packers presently rank sixth in the NFL in team salary at $138.5 million. One prominent agent said that the Packers might not have the cash to re-sign Jenkins.

You just kind of feel like you’re not in the plans, like they just don’t see you as a valuable enough player.”

Jenkins will become an unrestricted free agent in the next signing period, whenever owners and players decide it will be. The four-year, $15.84 million ($4 million signing bonus) deal that he signed on the eve of restricted free agency in February 2007 expires after the season.

Although Jenkins will turn 30 in January, he has demonstrated the ability to play right end in a 3-4, end or three-technique tackle in a 4-3 and either tackle on passing downs. His versatility would make him attractive to all 32 teams, not to mention the fact he has the interior pass-rushing ability that all teams covet.

The Packers have spoken highly of Jenkins through the years, understandably so. Other than Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Jermichael Finley and Charles Woodson, Jenkins probably is the most indispensable player on the roster.

“Well, you’d like to have every good player,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said Friday. “I like Cullen. He gives us a lot of flexibility.”

So far, Jenkins indicated club management has had almost no conversation with his representative, let alone make him an offer.

In the last two months, the Packers signed Donald Driver and Woodson to two-year contract extensions. Those were the latest moves in a busy nine months in which Brandon Chillar, Chad Clifton, Ryan Pickett, Mark Tauscher and Nick Collins all received lucrative new contracts.

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